Will McFarlane

Soul Country #13

Airdate May 18, 2026

Trailer 51:5

Recorded in Florence, AL

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Description

A five-minute window into one of the great unsung heroes of the Muscle Shoals sound. Will McFarlane rode the late 70s with Bonnie Raitt through Little Feat, Tom Waits, Muddy Waters and Buddy Guy before Jimmy Johnson of the Swampers called him down to Alabama. He never left.

This clip opens on signature licks played live, moves through the fatback feel and the art of listening on the floor, and closes on Roger Hawkins' snare sitting just a hair behind the beat. Everything you need to know about why the full conversation is worth your time.

More about Will McFarlane

Will McFarlane is an American guitarist and singer-songwriter whose roots run deep in blues, soul, and gospel. Born on a Navy base in California, McFarlane started voice lessons at age 6, picked up piano a year later, and grabbed a guitar at 12 after watching the Beatles on "The Ed Sullivan Show.". Bonnie Raitt discovered the 23-year-old playing a Cambridge, Massachusetts nightclub and brought him into her band, where he toured from 1974 to 1980. Those six years were a masterclass, with McFarlane soaking up straight blues, folk, country, and rock while sharing stages with living legends. After leaving Raitt, McFarlane planted roots in Muscle Shoals, spending over 20 years as a studio musician at Muscle Shoals Sound and recording with Etta James, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Little Milton, and Johnnie Taylor. He was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame in Nashville in 2008 as one of the Swampers. He continues to perform and record, carrying the Muscle Shoals sound wherever he goes.

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